# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S95 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) RESOLUTIONS 95 To Prepare Guidelines for Participation in Local Councils RESOLUTION 3-07 Overture 3-270 (CW, p. 198) Wuereas, An increasing number of congregations and pastors are participating in local councils of churches and ministerial associations; therefore be it Resolved, That the Commission on Theology and Church Relations be requested to prepare guidelines to assist congregations and pastors in determining the nature and extent of their participation in such local councils of churches and ministerial associations. Action: Adopted (2). To Review Structure and Functions of Commission on Theology and Church Relations RESOLUTION 3-08 Report 2-01, III (CW, p. 63); Overture 2-75U (URO, p. 11) Wuereas, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations has rendered invaluable service in our Synod during the past 7 years; and Wuereas, The commission has suggested that the time has come to review various questions concerning its structure and functions, which were largely dictated by the needs of the church in 1962; therefore be it Resolved, That a committee be appointed by the President of the Synod to review the adequacy of the present structure and functions of the commission; and be it further Resolved, That this review committee include theo- logical professors and laymen; and be it further Resolved, That this committee undertake its review in consultation with members of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations; and be it finally Resolved, That this review committee make appro- priate recommendations to the 1971 synodical conven- tion. Action: Adopted (4). (An amendment specifically to include “pastors” in the second resolved failed to carry, since the committee stated that the intent was that pastors be included.) To Establish Procedure for Initiating Fellowship Discussions RESOLUTION 3-09 Report 2-01, II, C (CW, pp. 62—63) Whereas, It is the responsibility and must be the desire of the Synod to grasp every opportunity God offers for approaches to other Christians, especially such as appear to have a confessional basis in harmony with the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions; and Wuereas, There is at present no agency or officer of the Synod charged with the responsibility of initiat- ing and promoting approaches of this nature; therefore be it Resolved, That this activity be made the responsi- bility of the Commission on Theology and Church Rela- tions working under the direction of the President of the Synod. Action: Adopted (4). _ (An amendment to insert “and practice” after “confes- sional basis” in the first whereas was lost.) To Decline Overtures re Joint Endeavors RESOLUTION 3-10 Overtures 3-344U, 3-345U (URO, pp. 33—34) Wuereas, The distinction between “sacred” and “secular” admits of a variety of interpretations; and Wuereas, The Synod is necessarily involved in a va- riety of joint endeavors with other groups, endeavors which do not compromise the Synod’s confessional posi- tion; therefore be it Resolved, That these overtures be declined. Action: Adopted (4). To Continue to Participate in LCUSA RESOLUTION 3-11 Report 2-01 II, B; Overtures 3-02 to 3-16 (CW, pp. 60, 95—99); 3-280U, 3-281U, 3-301U, 3-318U (URO, pp. 13, 19, 22) Wuereas, LCUSA is an agency of its constituent church bodies; and Wuereas, LCUSA functions in behalf of The Lu- theran Church — Missouri Synod only when the Synod officially requests the council to do so; and Wuereas, The performance of LCUSA in the few years of its existence has been commendable; and WHEREAS, Steps have been taken to insure adherence to prescribed procedures; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod thank God for the blessings bestowed on His church through LCUSA; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod continue to participate in LCUSA; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod inform its congregations more fully about the programs and activities of LCUSA; and be it finally Resolved, That in preparation for future conventions formal reports of the representatives to LCUSA be submitted in time to be included in the Convention Workbook as provided by the New York convention resolution and Bylaw 16.01. , Action: Adopted as amended (7). (The convention declined to consider a substitute mo- tion. It did, however, add the final resolved.)